Ex-lobbyist admits stalking NJ Dem chair's girlfriend

The West Orange woman charged with breaking into state Democratic Chairman Joseph Cryan's unlocked car pleaded guilty today to stalking his girlfriend and agreed to stay away from his family, authorities said.

Karen Golding, 38, a former Trenton lobbyist and an ex-friend of Cryan's, was arrested in a Statehouse parking lot in 2006 for slipping into the unlocked car. Golding made headlines when she was bailed out by Gov. Jon Corzine, who admitted it was a mistake.

She was later accused of bombarding the Union County assemblyman's relatives with about 600 anonymous phone calls while she was under court supervision.

As part of her guilty plea today in Morris County Superior Court, Golding agreed to an order prohibiting her from contacting Cryan and several of his relatives, said Special Deputy Attorney General Gregory Mueller, who is prosecuting the case.

Golding admitted that between December 2005 and February 2006, she sent anonymous letters and made hang-up phone calls to Cryan's girlfriend, Kathleen Conway.

Conway said she received 25 anonymous letters - some containing condoms and warning the 47-year-old to be careful while jogging. Some letters mentioned details about Conway's home only visible from her backyard, she said.

"It was really scary,'' Conway said.

She had initially avoided pleading guilty in May 2006 by entering a pre-trial intervention program. But then she was charged with harassment for hundreds of calls to Cryan's daughter, sister, brother and sister-in-law.

Superior Court Judge Salem Ahto extended Golding's time in a pre-trial intervention program an addtional year, through May 2009. If she doesn't violate probation, the stalking offense and the harassment charges will be dismissed. A burglary charge stemming from the alleged car break-in was dismissed today.

Megan Cryan, the politician's daughter, said she was eager for the episode to end.

"I just want her to leave us alone. I want to not feel afraid," Megan Cryan said.